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A special tour to North Cape was conducted by four Muslims in July. The tour lasted for eleven days, and covered a distance of almost 3000 km. The group consisted of three men and a boy, age 10. The journey started in Tromsø, driving through Finnmark municipality all the way to North Cape, before going east towards Kirkenes and Vardø. This round trip was organized by Islam Net and Alnor Senter, and the purpose of the journey was to reach out to people in remote areas to convey Islam's message, clear up general misconceptions about Islam, and become familiar with the Muslims in these areas to see what kind of needs they have. The choice fell on the Finnmark and Troms county, located high in the Arctic regions. The trip was a great success, it was several months of careful planning, and the group was overwhelmed by how welcoming and interested people were in learning about Islam. In all cities and towns where they stop, the group set up an information stand in the Town Center, handing out free books,DVD's and pamphlets about Islam. They had invested in a solid tent with weight plates to deal with the unpredictable Arctic climate. Apart from the first day it was mainly good weather during the entire journey, but windy in some places. Earlier this year a new Mosque opened in Alta, in a former restaurant premises, near the airport. The group was well received by the Muslims there, and were invited on a very nice boat trip. Then they traveled to Hammerfest, a beautiful coastal city, with nearly 10.000 inhabitants. Here, the Muslims have established a Mosque in an abandoned church, where they had started with Quran lessons for children and youth. Approx. 200-250 Muslims live in Hammerfest. From there, the journey continued North to Honningsvåg, then to North Cape. When the group arrived at the Cape, they felt they had come to the end of the world. Here, only the Svalbard Islands were between them and the North Pole. Throughout the trip the group stayed in cabins on campsites. All accommodation was pre-booked, and all places for the information stand was pre-approved by the local municipalities. After Vardø and Kirkenes, the journey continued south to Kautokeino, where the Sami culture is prominent. The next day began the long journey back to Tromso, where the group had a summary of the journey, before all packed and went home. The conclusion was that this tour was a great success, and that such travel in rural areas is rewarding and useful in several ways. The group was very pleased and felt that the trip had also helped to clarify many misconceptions about Islam, thus underlying the bridge-building and tolerance between people. Sites for the information stand; Sjøvegan, Finnsnes, Alta, Hammerfest, Honningsvåg, Nordkapp, Karasjok, Kirkenes, Vardø, og Kautokeino. Tour length: 11 days Distance: 2800 km Written by: Sandra Maryam Moe
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